Newsletter: September 2006

Hi everyone! Sorry for the gap between newsletters but here we are now to update you after our last meeting on 24 September. Trixie and Johan (email quinta.avo@gmx.net / phone 914115925) are the main contacts for the Association now as Nigel is very busy with work.

Registration:
It has been decided that the best way forward is to become registered as an association although this will cost us money, and then look at the more expensive process of becoming a registered charity. We must be registered even to just open a bank account and people are more willing to give larger donations of money to a registered body rather than just a group of individuals. If all our members could manage to donate just 10 euros each, we would be able to get the registration done and concentrate on moving forward. If we then become a registered charity, we will need to find a friendly accountant who will be willing to work for a reduced fee.

Kennels:
We need also to keep a focus on building the kennels on the new land which is being bought by Trixie and Johan but meanwhile animals keep turning up who need rescuing and this eats into our funds.

Legal Battle:
Also the legal battle still needs to continue to secure the future for the mare and foal, Miracle and Chancer (see photo / read article). They have had a lot of treatment and are doing well at the moment . We must legally stop them going back to their former owner who obviously has no idea how to treat animals. If anyone has any information on the EU laws regarding animals, please let us know.

Fund Raising: We need to hold as many fund raising events as possible. Already we have members planning to hold various fund raising events in Holland and England. Someone has been gathering children's clothes for sale and this will be organised soon.

Car Boot Sale:
We are planning to have a Car Boot Sale ion Sunday 15th October at 11am to be held at the Dutch campsite in Lourosa. This will be an excellent chance for you to make some money from your unwanted gifts and other household/garden stuff you no longer need. The charge for each car will be 3 euros in support of our Association and if you are willing to donate an extra amount from your proceeds, so much the better!

Donkey Derby Family Day:
Over here in Portugal, we have scheduled a Donkey Derby Family Day to be held on Sunday 29th October between 11am and 4pm, the venue to be announced soon. Sofie and Marieke are organising the veggie catering on the day and there will also be a tombola,, a lucky dip for children and a puppet show, but we need helpers and more suggestions for activities, especially for the children. We also need donations of veggie food and prizes (unwanted gifts etc in new condition) for the tombola, plus the loan of a megaphone/loudhailer Please email your suggestions and offers of help to quinta.avo@gmx.net or telephone Trixie on 914115925.

Thanks everyone!
We are very fortunate to have you all as our members and we hope that we will all be able to pull together to achieve our aims of a happier life for many abandoned or ill-treated animals. We already have some excellent vets who are waiving their normal travel fees to support our animals and Hoofcare Specialists are offering their services free to our rescued horses and donkeys. For anyone wishing to find out more about all the services that Hoofcare Specialists can offer, please email them on Blanche-Michel@clix.pt. A particular big thank-you to Sophie and Kurt who supplied some much-needed extra hay, and Robert Knight who very kindly sent an extra donation.

The next meeting
of the Association will be held at the café in the campsite at Ponte Das Tres Entradas on Sunday 22nd October at 2.30pm. We need your energy, ideas and enthusiasm – please come!.

 

 

© 2006 Ani+ | Telephone: 00351 914115925